Hundreds go to Stearns' homeowner workshops

GAINESVILLE - Jessica Sosa is a 29-year-old veterinary technician wanting to buy a home. But she also has some credit issues.

Ari and William Morel are homeowners and grandparents who hope to save their home from foreclosure after becoming victims of what they consider to be a predatory loan.

By Tatiana GonzalezCorrespondent

GAINESVILLE - Jessica Sosa is a 29-year-old veterinary technician wanting to buy a home. But she also has some credit issues.Ari and William Morel are homeowners and grandparents who hope to save their home from foreclosure after becoming victims of what they consider to be a predatory loan.These were two of many stories shared at Thursday night's free Homeowner's Workshop organized by U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns' office.The workshop, held at Santa Fe College in northwest Gainesville, attracted almost 200 people who received one-on-one advice on how to become first-time homeowners or on how to keep their current homes from foreclosure."People are looking for somewhere to turn, looking for help and we're providing it," said Jack Seum, Stearns' chief of staff.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a variety of local lenders, financial counselors and legal services were all present and busy answering questions and giving out advice during the four-hour event.Couples, mothers with children in tow and everything in between sat anxiously beginning at 4 p.m. for their numbers to be called to see a credit counselor or a home lender."I'm nervous about what they're going to tell me," said Sosa, before she saw a credit counselor.The counselor, from Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Mid-Florida, showed her that she needed to pay off her biggest recurring expense - her car - to begin the process of improving her credit. The counselor also gave Sosa information on a free financial workshop she could attend."I was about to go to one of those rip-off people who charge $500," said Sosa afterward. "Now I have some resources and know what I have to do."

While many left the event with vigor in their step, others left in tears.The Morels, whose troubles began in 2006 when Will lost his job as a bank adjuster, were told that they could not force the bank to modify the loan under the Making Home Affordable Refinance and Modification program.The program, part of the Obama administration's Financial Stability Plan, gives struggling homeowners facing foreclosure and who have a loan owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae the opportunity to modify their mortgage payments or refinance to a lower mortgage rate.The Morels did not qualify because they had unknowingly waited too long to apply. The bank had failed to tell them they qualified for the plan when they first went to them in February, according to the Morels."We're not looking to get a new house. We can pay a mortgage," said Ari Morel, who said she has lived in her current home for over 15 years. "We were cheated."About 350 people attended Stearns' similar Marion County workshop, which was held Tuesday at Central Florida Community College's Ocala campus.They also received one-on-one counseling tailored to their financial situations, said John Konkus, the district director for Stearns."Our goal was not for folks to come and get lectured to," he said. "We wanted them to be able to sit down with someone and get a specific problem taken care of."The majority the workshop participants were current homeowners - some were up-to-date on their mortgage payments, some were behind and some were already in full-blown foreclosure, Konkus said. But people also came for help navigating the home-buying process for the first time, and some of them were able to prequalify on site for FHA loans."We're trying to stem the tide of the housing bust right here locally," he said.